Dynamic Media Based Cache Management for Data Storage Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data Storage Devices (DSDs) face performance degradation when the Media Based Cache (MBC) becomes full, requiring time to relocate data and reducing the speed of new write commands, leading to increased seek operations and decreased performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing dynamic MBC region management, including varying sizes and locations, and using a portion of I/O bandwidth during active times to copy write data to their intended locations, preventing MBC region overflow and maintaining stable performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is cached in the Media Based Cache (MBC) to improve write speed, then write performance is improved, but when the MBC becomes full, new write commands cannot be quickly written and the DSD must spend time relocating data, causing performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic MBC region management where the size and location of MBC regions are not fixed but can be adjusted based on current workload and disk conditions. The controller dynamically allocates and deallocates MBC regions, allowing the system to adapt to varying data caching needs and prevent performance degradation when the MBC becomes full
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of MBC regions including their size, location, and allocation status. By modifying these parameters dynamically, the system can optimize write performance while preventing MBC overflow, thus maintaining performance stability across different operating conditions
2Speed
If the MBC is used to cache data for faster access, then seek operations are reduced, but when the MBC is full, more time must be spent relocating data from MBC to intended locations, increasing seek operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by proactively managing MBC region allocation and data relocation before the MBC becomes completely full. The controller monitors MBC usage and initiates data relocation operations in advance, preventing the situation where the MBC is full and urgent relocation is needed, thus reducing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors the status of the MBC including usage levels and relocation needs. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts MBC region management strategies to maintain optimal data access speed while minimizing time spent on data relocation
Data Source
AI summary
Write commands are received for a Data Storage Device (DSD) to store write data in a plurality of corresponding write locations on at least one disk of the DSD. At least a portion of the write data is cached in at least one Media Based Cache (MBC) region of the at least one disk based on a write cache policy for determining which write data is eligible for caching in the at least one MBC region. The at least one MBC region is used to cache data to be stored in other locations on the at least one disk. During an active time period when host commands are performed on the at least one disk, a portion of an I/O bandwidth for performing commands is used to copy the at least a portion of the write data to corresponding write locations of the plurality of corresponding write locations.